Bathtub construction



Feb. 13, 1962 R. B. COTTING BATHTUB CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 2, 1958 INVENTOR; P0 72219 60571229.

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Feb. 13, 1962 R. B. COTTING BATHTUB CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2, 1958 Feb. 13, 1962 R. B. COTTING BATHTUB CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 2, 1958 I NV EN TOR. Raye/i (bx/airy EflZiLSfil Patented Feb. 13, 1962 ice 3,020,561 BATHTUB CONSTRUCTION Roger Cotting, Rte. 1, Box 41C, Sarasota, Fla. Filed Sept. 2, 1958, Ser. No. 758,442 6 Claims. (Cl. 4-173) This invention relates to bathtubs, and more particularly to an improved tub of standard size and contour constructed to fit into and be installed in bathrooms of many different configurations.

For many years, bathtubs have been fabricated each as a complete unit, usually on legs or pedestals, and having aprons to provide a finished appearance for those sides of the tub which are not masked by the walls of the bathroom. Necessarily the tubs have been made in a variety of shapes and forms to meet the needs for variation in sizes and shapes of the bathrooms. For exam ple, bathtubs are now made as right hand, left hand, re-

cessed corner (right hand and left hand) and island tubs in order to meet the requirements of the designer, architect and consumer; but even so, these are not sufiicient.

Obviously, this multiple variation in tub design has increased the cost of manufacture. Architects have found these tubs to be a hindrance to the design of pleasing 'rooms because of the necessity to fit the rooms to the dimensions of the available tubs which limit freedom of use. Certain bathtubs have been suggested which would fit right or left hand plumbing, right hand or left hand corners or recesses. Even these, however, only partially accomplish complete freedom of use and the design of bathrooms about these tubs is still limited by the size of the tub.

Having in mind the defects of prior art bathtubs, it is the principal object of the present invention to obviate the foregoing disadvantages and to provide a single standard bathtub unit adaptable for all types of construction. A

A primary object of the invention is to provide a bathtub in a single design or model which will interchangeably fit either right hand or left hand installations, and which may be installed in right or left hand corners and may be recessed, raised, or sunken, or installed as an island; regardless of the dimensions of the bathroom or alcove in which installed. Another important object of the invention is to provide a standard bathtub unit of universal application which will permit the tiling of Walls in a bathroom in which the unit is installed to mask or trim one, two, three or four sides of the tub, eliminating the need for variation in the standard unit and the need for additional appendages such as skirts or aprons to mask the sides of the tub.

A further object of the invention is to provide a standard bathtub unit having a rim capable of jointing with standard tile construction walls to form a tile trim about such rim in different ways, in diiferent positions and under various tiling conditions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a standard bathtub unit having a plurality of optional support means including a support flange on the rim of the tub and additional support sockets on the body of the tub, the latter being capable of receiving different height and adjustable legs to vary the height of the installed -tub, the combined rim and body supports enabling the distribution of the tub weight to both the walls and the floor of the room in which the tub is installed.

A further object of the invention is to provide flange surfaces or their equivalent on the rim of the tub for the attachment of a suitable base for tiling a skirt over any exposed side of the tub.

Yet another object of the invention is to effect considerable economies in the cost of production and installation without in any way sacrificing the durability, appearance or utility of the tub.

Briefly, according to the present invention, a tub portion is provided around its top with a continuous rim capable of being joined to, trimmed by, or interfitted with wall tiling. The shape of the rim, which is explained hereinafter, enables installation under a large variety of tiling conditions and, as a result, tiling which is added about the tube to mask the sides of the tub or to support the tub in one or more walls may be extended to vary the dimensions of the complete built-in bathtub. In other words, while the tub itself remains a standard size, the recesses or the islands built of tile to receive the tub may be of many varied lengths, widths, heights and shapes and, accordingly, enable limitless freedom to the designer or architect in his accomplishment of more handsome, efficient and intriguing bathroom arrangements.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention 'are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a standard tub unit according to the invention installed at an elevated or raised position in a three-wall recess considerably longer than the tub;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the tub unit alone before application of tile walls;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the tub unit shown in! FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the tube unit shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through the tub and wall against which it is installed substantially on line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectiona view taken on line 66 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views similar to FIG. 6 but illustrating different types of joints which may be used to connect the standard tub unit to adjacent tile walls or to walls built about the tub for masking purposes;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the standard tub unit installed in a right hand corner at normal height, and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the standard bathtub unit installed in sunken position with its sides joined to one wall and the floor of a bathroom.

Referring now to the drawings, a standard tub unit 10 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1 installed in a left hand corner of a bathroom alcove at an elevation raised above normal, the alcove being considerably longer than the tub. The standard tub unit 10 is provided around its top with an outwardly turned rim 12 extending completely around its perimeter and desirably rectangular in form. The tub 10 may be of any suitable length and width, and it is preferred to make the standard unit approximately 5 feet long and approximately 2 feet 6 and inches wide overall dimensions over the tub rim 12. The foregoing dimensions are particularly adapted for installation with standard 4%"X4 A" tile.

The tub 19 itself is shaped in the usual manner, as best shown in FIGS. 2-4, with a considerable slope at one end and a rather steep slope at the opposite end adjacent the drain opening 14. In the wall, at the latter end, an overflow opening 16 is provided. The cavity of tub 10 may be shaped according to the usual practice with inner wall surfaces that slope inwardly and downwardly and with rounded corners merging into each other, and with a bottom that merges into the side walls.

The tub proper is a unitary body preferably formed of cast iron and coated on its interior with porcelain or other suitable surface to provide a dense, smooth and waterproof internal finish. The bottom and side outer surfaces of the tub body, all of which will be masked in the installation of the tub, may, however, be left quite rough and unfinished. The treatment of these surfaces of the tub forms no part of the present invention and may be accomplished by resort to practices and principles well known in the art of casting or making bathtubs.

The tub rim 12 lies in a substantially horizontal plane and the outer edges of the rim form the sides of 2. rectangle having square corners. This enables the tub to fit against one wall, in a corner, in a three-wall recess of tub length, or in a position with an adjacent floor area substantially level with the rim 12, or any combination thereof, whichever is desired. In all of these instances, except when disposed as an island tub, the sides of the rim 12 abutting a wall will be joined to the wall, and the remaining open sides will be masked by tile walls or floor constructed from the floor or a wall to surround them and interfit with the rim. Two sides walls of the tub are made alike and the two end walls are also similar so that the tub body can be reversed from the position shown in FIG. 1 to that, as for example, shown in FIG. 13.

Spaced inwardly a short distance from the edge of rim 12, preferably about the thickness of a standard tile, is an upstanding flange 20 preferably at right angles to the upper face of the rim 12. Flange 20 is also preferably continuous about the complete perimeter of the tub and extends upwardly only a short distance, about 7 inch or slightly more than the thickness of a standard wall tile. The rim 12 is turned downwardly at right angles at its outer edge in a short flange 18 which may extend about the entire perimeter of rim 12. The downturned flange 18 has a lower edge 22 parallel to the upper face of rim 12 and adapted to support the tub on a floor, a wall cleat or the like.

Thus, the outer surface of flange 18 may position the tub for installation against a side wall, while the lower edge 22 may partially or wholly support the tub. A plurality of slots 24, about by inch, are formed or cut in all sides of the downturned flange 18 and extend upwardly from the lower surface 22. The slots 24 are preferably spaced equally and approximately 6 inches apart for the purpose of receiving, positioning or supporting bolts 64, as best shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

On the outer side walls of the tub body 10, four sleevelike supports 26, each having a socket or bore 29, are formed, or secured as by welding, on the tub body 10, as best shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5. These supports are positioned near the end walls of the tub. The bottom edges 27 of members 26 are adapted to function as feet to support the tub at normal level since they extend a short distance below the tub bottom. When it is desired to support the tub from the floor at an elevated or raised position, pipelike legs 30 may be inserted into the bores 29 of the sleeves 26 for a distance of about 6 inches where they bear against the bore end faces 28. Pipes 30 are threaded at their lower ends 34 into openings in base members 32. The threads permit a slight adjustment of the length of the legs 30 and leveling of the feet or base members 32. Obviously, the legs 30 may be of different lengths to selectively support the tub 10 at a desired elevation.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, it will be apparent that the standard tub 10, when installed in a lengthened recess, at a raised elevation, may be supported at the appropriate level from the floor by means of the legs 30 with one outer side of rim flange 18 secured to, as by bolts 64 or other hangers, and resting directly against the stud line 37 of the rear wall of the recess. Tiling, shown as rim 12.

At one end wall of tub 10, the bottom edge 22 of tub rim 18 may rest on a plywood form, such as 42 in FIG. 6, over which is applied the tile-setting bed 43. To seal and trim the tub flange 12 at this end of the tub, a course of standard flanged tiles 44 having one edge portion downwardly turned is fitted with the downward tile edges positioned within the upstanding flange 20 and bonded to the rim by a layer 41 of grout. This provides an attractive trim and watertight seal to the rim 12 at the end of the tub which exactly matches the tile seal at the inner side of the tub. The remainder of the ledge between the tub 10 and wall 13 of the recess shown in FIG. 1 may be tiled in with standard flat tiles 40.

The flanged tiles 44 may also be placed and bonded over rim flange 20 at the side of the tub opposite wall 15 of the recess. These tiles are bonded to upstanding tiles 40 forming a wall to the elevation of tub rim 12 which masks the front side of the tub. The recess end wall 17, against which one end of the tub 10 abuts, is also tiled with flat tiles 40 in the manner shown in FIG. 5 to seal the tub rim in the same manner as explained for wall 15. In this manner, all parts of the tub are masked by standard tile with the exception of the interior of the tub cavity and the upper surface of rim 12 within the upstanding flange 20.

The use on the standard tub of the horizontally extending rim 12 with the upstanding flange 20 and the downturned flange 18 lends itself to different tiling methods and conditions some of which are illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 12.

In FIG. 7, the tile 40 is positioned to rest on the flange 20 with its glazed surface in line with the inner surface of such flange. In this illustration, the outer face of downturned flange 18 is abutted against a blocking member 46 fastened to the studs 37. The tile 40 is again set in a cement bed 36 set on the lath 38. The layer 41 of grout is applied between the top of flange 20 and the lower edges of the bottom course of tiles.

FIG. 8 illustrates the bonding of tile to the outer side of the upstanding flange 20. Atlhough flat tile could be used for this purpose, a flanged tile 48 is shown set in a setting bed 50 mounted on lath 38 and resting on blocking member 52 which spaces flange 18 from the studs 37.

FIG. 9 illustrates a tiling condition or method which is suitable for installing sunken or recessed tubs as an alternative to the arrangement shown in FIG. 6. Here, the bottom edge 22 of tub flange 18 rests on a plywood form 54 to partially support the tub. A tile-setting bed 56 is laid on form 54 and standard flat tile 40 is laid in this bed with the edge of its first course adjacent the outer face of rim flange 20. In this instance, a thin layer 41 of grout sets and seals the adjacent tile edges to the outer face of flange 20.

FIG. 10 illustrates a tiling method or condition similar to that of FIG. 9 but in which the tub is sunken in a concrete floor 58 with the bottom edge 22 of tub flange 18 resting on the concrete. A setting bed 56 for tile is laid above the concrete, and the tiling comprising flat tiles 40 is bonded to the outer face of flange 20 and approximately level with the flange top.

FIG. 11 shows the flange 18 of the standard tub butted against a vertical plywood form 62 to which it is secured by means of bolts 64 passing through the slots 24. A course of curved tiles 60 is bonded to the outer side of upstanding flange 20 and set in a cement bed 66 which extends vertically along form 62" and horizontally above this form to rim 12.

In the tiling method or condition illustrated in FIG. 12, a vertical stand of rib lath 70 is secured to the inner surface of the flange 18 by means of the bolts 64 passing through the slots 24. The cement tile-setting bed 68 is applied to latch 70 and the flanged tiles 44 are laid on this bed and bonded to the outer surface of upstanding flange 20.

Still other tiling methods and conditions are possible and appropriate for use with the standard tub of this in vention. The positioning and dimensions of the flanges 20 and 18 are such as to permit a variety of tiling conditions, only some of which are illustrated. Standard tiles in common supply in the building industry and measuring 4%" by 4%" and A" or thick may be used without cutting to trim the tub at its rim. Other size tiles may also be used.

The position of flange 20 spaced inwardly from the outer edge of the rim approximately the thickness of the tile and extending upwardly about the same distance as the tile thickness lends itself to the variety of tile seals described above. As explained, the tiles may be positioned and cemented to the inner or outer face of flange 20 or to its upper surface. Either fiat or curved tiles may be employed. In all cases, the bathtub is sealed with an attractive appearing tile trim.

The slots 24 equally spaced around flange 12 enable the attachment to the tub of wood or metal forms as a base for tiling in the exposed tub sides. The downturned rim 18 permits the accurate location of a form under the rim when tiling on a horizontal surface and also provides support for the tub in addition to the support which may be provided from legs 30 or leg sockets 26; or hangers in the slots 24.

FIG. 13 illustrates the installation of the standard tub unit in a right hand corner and at a standard height. Preferably, the plumbing inlets to the tub are provided by faucets 72 and 74 positioned in the bathroom wall above the tub unit proper.

FIG. 14 illustrates the installation of the standard tub unit 10 sunken in the floor of a bathroom with one side against a wall of the bathroom. In this instance, the plumbing faucets 76 and 78 are preferably installed in the floor at one end of the tub.

In both FIGURES 13 and 14, it is apparent that the tub 10 is bonded to and masked by tile to provide a most attractive and pleasing appearance as Well as a watertight construction.

The drawings illustrate only a few of the many variations of construction which may be employed with the standard tub 10. Other modes of utilization not illustrated include: raising the tub of FIG. 14 to standard level or raised level, as side pier types of installations; positioning the tub sunken as in FIG. 14, but with the butting wall adjacent the end rather than the side of the tub; and raising the tub installed in this manner to different elevations. Still other variations involve lowering the tub 'as positioned in the long recess of FIG. 1 to standard or sunken levels, or varying the recess to increase or decrease its length and breadth to the minimum dimensions equal to those of the tub. If desired, the tub may be sunken in a floor and positioned entirely away from all walls of the bathroom; or if elevated in such position, constructed as an island in the bathroom.

The foregoing explanation reveals the almost limitless variety of installations, locations and tiling conditions which are possible with the standard tub unit described. The elimination of skirts or aprons to mask the tub, and the need for only one standard size and design of tub rather than many tubs of different configurations and dimensions to fit different locations will permit considerable economy in the production of the tub and its installation, factors which add to the desirability of the invention by lessening cost while increasing the freedom of use.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A standard bathtub, adapted to be installed in any location in a room, comprising a tub body having a cavity and an outturned rim lying substantially in a horizontal plane, said rim enclosing the perimeter of the tub body, and an upturned tile setting flange extending upwardly from and completely about said rim and spaced outwardly from the cavity and inwardly from the outer edge of the rim thereby providing a substantially flat surface on either side of the flange.

2. A bathtub for universal application as defined in claim 1 wherein said horizontally extending rim is provided with a downturned flange at its outer edge, said outer edge and the bottom surfaces of said downturned flange forming positioning means to fix said tub body.

3. A bathtub according to claim 2 wherein said downturned flange is provided with a plurality of openings for purpose of receiving means for positioning and fastening said tub body to wall elements.

4. A bathtub as defined in claim 1 wherein said upturned flange for seating tile is the height of and spaced inwardly from the outer edge of the said rim distances approximately equal to the thickness of standard tiles.

5. The bathtub of claim 1 comprising leg receiving sockets on said tub body extending along the height of the tub walls and below the bottom surface of said cavity, legs removably disposed in said sockets.

6. The bathtub of claim 5 comprising means on said legs for varying the height thereof, said sockets, legs and means totally underlying the peripheral outer edge of said rim to permit installment of any side of the bathtub against a wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,144,191 Gray June 22, 1915 1,633,685 Stark June 28, 1927 1,738,256 Miller Dec. 3, 1929 1,778,300 Ramstead Oct. 14, 1930 2,013,720 Thompson Sept. 10, 1935 2,054,146 Troeger et al. Sept. 15, 1936 2,102,082 Lucke Dec. 14, 1937 2,117,233 Clark May 10, 1938 2,161,952 Dean June 13, 1939 2,533,591 La Barre Dec. 12, 1950 2,609,547 Clark Sept. 9, 1952 2,841,795 Pelicano July 8, 1958 2,850,743 White Sept. 9, 1958 

